Story by
Best and worst of college football Week 4: Indiana shuts people up, coach on his phone
- Story by
- Best and worst of college football Week 4: Indiana shuts people up, coach on his phone
After people spent all of 2024 discounting Indiana 's run to the College Football Playoff, the same was forming in 2025 following the easy non-conference schedule. The Hoosiers' talent was going to be a facade until they played a top 10 team, where it would be exposed as a fraud and be dismissed.
Does Indiana have your attention now?
Advertisement
The Hoosiers proved their legitimacy with an emphatic statement, running all over No. 9 Illinois in a 63-10 win . You'd think this was another game against an FCS team with how Indiana dominated this matchup, making a top 10 team look nowhere near the level of Indiana. It was a disaster for the Fighting Illini as the game ruined their own hopes as a playoff contender.
Many people figured Saturday, Sept. 20 would be when the real, unworthy Indiana would show up, that way they wouldn't have to deal with listening to the Hoosiers reason why they deserve a seat at the lunch table for the rest of the season. Instead, they took Illinois' lunch money − and are on the hunt for more.
There's still a long way to go with plenty more tests, but Indiana has made the doubters shut up with a signature victory, and they lead the best and worst things from Week 4 of college football.
College football Week 4 winners, losers: Nebraska misses opportunity vs. Michigan
Advertisement
Best: Backup QB steps up
A backup quarterback coming in at Utah sounds like a recipe for disaster, but Will Hammond didn't get that memo.
If you didn't watch Texas Tech's dominant win over Utah , you'd likely see the score and assume Behren Morton went off for the Red Raiders . In reality, Morton left the game early in the second half with injury and Hammond had to come in and somehow keep his team afloat after the offense struggled all day.
Instead, Hammond showed complete poise, leading Texas Tech to 24 fourth quarter points to take the Utes out of the picture. Hammond went 13-for-16 with 169 yards and two touchdowns, and he added 61 rushing yards on eight carries. You'd think he was the starter.
Advertisement
The Red Raiders would certainly love to have Morton back as they've solidified their position as a Big 12 contender, but if he's unavailable, they should certainly feel good with Hammond.
Worst: Ridiculous kick off times
Week 5 exposed one of the worst aspects of conference realignment in kickoff times. While it deserved the national spotlight, Utah and Texas Tech had to start at 10 a.m. local time. Meanwhile, Michigan State had to play Southern California at 8 p.m. local time − or 11 p.m. ET for Spartan fans.
This doesn't mean anything in terms of performance, but it really is a disservice to fans for making them wake up super early or stay up later than when bars close just to watch their team in action. C'mon networks.
Advertisement
Best: Stepping up in rivalry game
If this was the final Battle for the Iron Skillet , TCU receiver Eric McAlister made sure to put up a legendary performance.
McAlister had a whopping eight catches for 254 yards and three touchdowns, including an electric 70-yard score that gave the Horned Frogs the lead and a 44-yard one that was the dagger for Southern Methodist. Pretty remarkable when your quarterback throws for 379 yards and accounts for 67% of it in the second-most receiving yards in a game in TCU history.
It was a performance that certainly boosts McAlister's draft stock, and even better, gifts us another cursed TCU victory video.
Worst: Being on your phone
We can all admit we've been on our phone while on the clock. But there are some instances when you should put it down and focus on the task.
Advertisement
Someone should let Trent Dilfer know. While his UAB team was getting ready to face Tennessee , the Blazers coach thought it be a great opportunity to whip out his phone and take in the scenes of Neyland Stadium.
It's a cool thing to do when you're not coaching the game, but maybe Dilfer is just getting ready to be a fan considering how hot his seat is. If only he seemed as interested in how his team did in the blowout loss.
Best: UCF perfectly trolls Bill Belichick
UCF, or Central according to Bill Belichick, welcomed the Belichick show to Orlando and boy did they have some fun with it.
The Knights made North Carolina look silly as they cruised toward a 34-9 victory to move to 3-0. Of course, Belichick and his relationship with Jordon Hudson has been a focal point of his first season with the Tar Heels, and UCF had the perfect way to troll the couple in celebrating.
Getting raced out of the stadium is tough, but suffering an even worse loss on social media is never good.
Advertisement
Worst: Referee mistakes
Everyone can say referees mess up every game, but it's never good when the conference admits they did.
It came at a critical moment in Auburn vs. Oklahoma , when a Sooners touchdown shouldn't have been counted after receiver Isaiah Sategna III deceivingly stayed on the field. He didn't go to the sideline and ended up catching the touchdown pass. It was seven points for Oklahoma, which clearly played the difference in a 24-17 win for the Sooners.
You have to feel for Auburn being on the wrong end of #refball.
Best: Another Oregon uniform win
It's common knowledge Oregon's uniforms always look good, but the Ducks may have done their best yet. The "Shoe Duck" uniforms they wore in Week 4 against rival Oregon State was a nod to Nike co-founder and Oregon alumnus Phil Knight. The set is insanely clean, but best part might have been the helmet, with one side donning the Oregon wing and the other adorning the wing of Greek Goddness Nike.
Wide receiver Dakorien Moore #1 of the Oregon Ducks huddles up during the second half of the game against the Oregon State Beavers at Autzen Stadium on Sept. 20, 2025 in Eugene, Oregon.
Of course, Oregon looked good and it played well with an easy 41-7 win over the Beavers.
Advertisement
Worst: Not having your back
Going back to Auburn, Jackson Arnold was going to have a rude welcome to Oklahoma as he led the Tigers into Norman. The former Sooners quarterback had a chance to stun his former fans, and he nearly did it when he gave the Tigers a fourth quarter lead.
But his offensive line did him no favors, giving up 10 sacks as well as committing six false starts and two holding calls. Arnold's chance at revenge spoiled by those meant to protect them, and the unit certainly owes the quarterback a nice dinner.
Best: Still showing up, and winning
Week 3 couldn't have been worse for Virginia Tech after getting blown out by Old Dominion. It fired its coach and with Wofford on deck, it wouldn't have been surprising to see Lane Stadium pretty empty.
Advertisement
Instead, the Hokies faithful showed up for their team, showing there is still some belief and dedication in Blacksburg. The team responded with a 38-6 victory for its first win of the season.
It's nothing to brag about, but you got to enjoy the little things.
Worst: Weather delays
Mother nature clearly hasn't been a fan of college football this year as another set of weather delays halted play in Week 4. Clemson-Syracuse, Notre Dame-Purdue and Florida State - Kent State all had their games suspended or delayed due to weather, which made for some long days for players and fans.
Best: A running Ralphie
Just before the season, Colorado's live mascot Ralphie VI retired after four seasons on the job due to "an indifference to running." The Buffaloes didn't have their mascot for their iconic team entrance to start the campaign, but in Week 4, they finally got to unveil Raphie VII .
Advertisement
And this Raphie has no problems running after her electric debut. Look at her go.
Best: Florida State redemption
This season has been an amazing turnaround for Florida State, and there's one person who is enjoying 2025.
Remember that Seminoles fan who had the "we are cooked" sign last season during the loss to Memphis? He was back for the game against Kent State, but this time with a sign that read "we are cooking."
Instead of 0-3, Florida State is 3-0 and this iconic fan deserves all of the fun.
(This story has been updated to change a video.)
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: College football Week 4 best, worst: Indiana wows, coach on his phone
